markbognor
South East
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Believe in D&Tmarkbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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Nov 18, 2011 10:29:23 GMT
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Believe in D&T is a campaign and petition to maintain the status of design and technology as a subject in our secondary schools. The campaign is headlined by this belief statement: “D&T must stay at the heart of the curriculum as a statutory entitlement for all pupils aged 5-14” D&T (Product Design/Food Technology/Textiles Technology/Electronics/Systems and Control/Graphics/Resistant Materials) is a subject that teaches a decision making process based on identification of criteria, use of research and understanding of the use of tools and materials to develop a practical solution to a problem/need. These skills are not of course limited to just practical problems and can be applied to any problem or situation that requires a solution to be found. It is in fact a set of skills and approaches that are crucial to being alive, particularly if you drive and maintain an old, unusual or unreliable car. If you feel you would like to support the petition please visit: www.believeindandt.org.uk/general/sign-up.htmlI will pay much pennance
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,924
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Believe in D&Tstealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Nov 18, 2011 10:31:37 GMT
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Signed, only lesson I looked forward to that didn't have a fit female teacher.
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Nov 18, 2011 10:32:56 GMT
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done. If this is taken off the curriculum then god knows where GB's industry will go! buy everything from japan i suppose....
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rysz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,558
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Nov 18, 2011 10:33:12 GMT
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Done, it is hugely important!
Rysz.
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Believe in D&T10mpg
@10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member 204
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Nov 18, 2011 10:36:50 GMT
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What happened to 'woodwork' and 'metalwork'?
Bah!
(signed)
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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Nov 18, 2011 10:58:35 GMT
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D&T (Product Design/Food Technology/Textiles Technology/Electronics/Systems and Control/Graphics/Resistant Materials) is a subject that teaches a decision making process based on identification of criteria, use of research and understanding of the use of tools and materials to develop a practical solution to a problem/need. I think that lot were still separate subjects when I was at high school: design and communication (drawing), design and realization (woodwork/metalwork), etc. The thing is though, I think there are a good proportion of people with not much aptitude or interest in making stuff, while teaching each of those subjects well requires teachers with a pretty special set of skills. (One of our teachers was also a goldsmith and formerly a draughtsman in the aircraft industry which came in handy relating the material to a bunch of indifferent teenagers.) So I'm not sure about lumping the lot in together under one GCSE and obliging kids with no interest to muck about though a cookery or CAD class while the ones with an aptitude for it get distracted and miss out. I'm probably missing the point though.
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Nov 18, 2011 11:03:36 GMT
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the thing is, some students are more academic and good at things like maths and science and the like, where as other students are better and more interested in practical applied subjects such as D&T and metal work and the like. i was one of the lucky ones who was good at both, but i looked forward mostly to my metal work and design lessons without a doubt. Other than maths i think this is really the only other subject that gives you problem solving lessons and much of them very relevent to the real world.
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Nov 18, 2011 11:21:20 GMT
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Having been a D&T teacher for 10 years between 1997 and 2007 I can honestly say that this is one of the most important aspects of the school curriculum today and it would be an absolute crime to lose it. At our school it was so important that it was compulsory right the way through from 11 to 16 (you had to take a GCSE in it) To kind of answer Calamity's question, the kids did a short 'snapshot' of each area of D&T throughout the year for the first three years (approx 8 weeks in each subject area) covering a more challenging project each year. Come GCSE (last 2 years) they had to choose one of the four subjects that we covered: food, textiles, graphics and resistant materials (i.e. woodwork/metalwork). Each year, the four subjects were pretty much fairly equally chosen which showed that there wasn't a massive preference to one subject. Having said that, graphics was usually over subscribed, but I blame the teacher (me ;D) for that - but this was only a handful of kids who were then happy to be put into their second choice subject. Food and textiles, contrary to popular belief) had an equal mix of boys and girls, so did resistant materials and graphics. Anyway, my point to all this? Other than D&T, there is currently no other place in school these days for 'practical life skills' which are far more important to things like living daily life than an academic certificate ever will be. No other subject teaches quite a range of basic (and advanced) skills for the pracicalities that we all have to face every day. Sure, there will always be a very important need for good maths and english etc...and I am not denying that, but by cutting out D&T from education we are risking losing any sense of practicality and practical problem solving that remains. Only yesterday on the news they announced a 1 million reward 'award' for engineering in order to try and boost our lagging industry....yet at the same time they are thinking of taking away the very foundations that the engineering industry are built on. That not only saddens me, it sickens me. The stuff that 'my kids' made over the years was just amazing - the ideas they came up with, then managed to realise them in a 3D form to a very high quality of finish and function, was just incredible. The skills they learnt through all this are vital in all walks of life. I know a few people who never took any kind of D&T subject beyond lower school (my GF is one of them) and the lack of confidence let alone skill at being able to tackle anything practical, beyond the most simple & obvious, is just worrying. I urge you all to vote - we need more of this subject in schools, not less of it! Sorry to go on, but it is very important and reading this news has really spoilt my day
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Onne
Part of things
Posts: 822
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Nov 18, 2011 11:28:05 GMT
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Signed, both my parents are teachers (but not in the UK) so I know how important this is. I was lucky enough to get these courses/classes when at school in The Netherlands, no idea what state they're in now.
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1990 Mercedes W126 300SE 1997 Mercedes W140 S320L
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Believe in D&Tretrowagen1234
@GUEST
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Nov 18, 2011 11:32:00 GMT
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Signed Again, One of the few subjects i loved at school, And more importantly One of the few i was good at. (imho) ;D They get rid of stuff like this, Then imo its the final nail in the coffin for British engineering as a growing occupation. Kids are being forced toward subjects like maths and science, And when they arnt good at them they leave school with nothing. If they had been given the chance to excell in a more fitting subject they could leave school to find a job doing what they WANT and not what they SHOULD do in the opinion of modern (work in an office) society. Even when i was at school we were getting pushed toward subjects like Physical education, and science.. Everyone knew i was facinated by cars, engines, bikes.. Getting myself into a Engineering course for NVQ took TWO of my options!! Meaning that for GCSE my main subjects were ICT and enginnering. Whereas most people could do three subjects and leave with decent qualifications. Also meant that due to that, Hardly any people did the course. Btw i love science now, As an interest. Not as a occupation.
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,968
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Believe in D&TMiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Nov 18, 2011 11:40:11 GMT
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Signed...
I feel even more strongly about the way IT/Computing/ICT is (isn't) taught in schools. Kids just don't have an appreciation of what IT really is or it's implications.
Hence all the idiots who sign their boss up as a friend on facebook and then post they hate their job and wonder why they get sacked.
Bring back the BBC micro, or make more use of scratch........
<context> I've worked in IT for 30+ years, worked in IT L&D and currently work for the Open University (commercial not academic) </context>
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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Nov 18, 2011 12:18:55 GMT
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Signed, I don't think I would be an Engineer today if D&T classes at school hadn't got me so interested in that type of thing. I'm a bright person and I did well at other subjects, English, Science, Maths etc. but most aspects of those things bore me, I have a very short attention span, get bored extremely easily and so I found I really shone in the more 'hands on' subjects.
I know this is a case for a LOT of kids too, particularly the 'problem' ones who are infact really too clever for their own good and are bored by written subjects, but excel themselves in practical where your mind is always busy and you have something physical to show after it all. Taking away their only outlet to shine at school is a terrible idea.
Rediculous shame if they get rid of D&T from the curriculum.
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1989 Volkswagen Golf MK2 1300GT - Scrapyard rescue 1990 Nissan 200sx S13 - Drift toy 1992 Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole - Low mileage project 1996 Vauxhall Corsa B - Winter daily 2001 Volkswagen Golf TDI PD130 - Mile muncher
WTB - Volvo 340 or 360
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Nov 18, 2011 12:20:17 GMT
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Thanks for setting me straight MM. I have enormous respect for anyone that can teach a roomful of teenagers anything.
I can absolutely see the point of giving the kids a taster of as much as possible, but doesn't that apply equally to every subject? I mean what if mandating four expensive to teach D&T disciplines means that a school can't afford to offer GSCE Latin or RE, or separate sciences to kids that might have enjoyed it but wouldn't otherwise know.
(Also, just wondering how you can get onto an engineering course without pure maths, physics and chemistry.)
Occurs to me that the folk here with fond memories of doing metal bashing at school like me are from an era when it wasn't on the curriculum.
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2011 16:13:21 GMT by Clamity
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task
Part of things
Posts: 374
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Nov 18, 2011 12:20:55 GMT
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Signed, we already have a vast array of people that seem to find thinking for themselves in any form of logical manner impossible, let's not compound this issue.
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,995
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Believe in D&Tcraig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Nov 18, 2011 12:25:30 GMT
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Signed, taking out D&T is a stupid as taking out Math or science.
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,604
Club RR Member Number: 11
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Believe in D&Tskinnylew
@skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member 11
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Nov 18, 2011 12:25:50 GMT
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signed, did this at GCSE and A level loved it, also did Graphics at GCSE but that was less enjoyable lol What you will end up is with a generation incapable of doing DIY on their houses and lacking the knowledge and ability to do things as simple as put up a shelf etc. Oh and a generation missing out on the ability to fire wood chunks across the room using the sander, clamping peoples ties in the bench vices and chopping bits of wood badly ;D
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Nov 18, 2011 12:34:33 GMT
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I'm of the opinion that it should be re-branded as engineering, as that's what much of D&T is. The problem is that school kids have no idea what an engineer is or does. When I was at school I was good at maths, science and D&T, yet at no point was engineering suggested as a career, and if it was, I would probably have dismissed it as dirty and low-paid. Fortunately I got really into cars, and decided I wanted to be a car designer, which after a bit of research I realised is actually engineering...
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Nov 18, 2011 12:59:03 GMT
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I feel even more strongly about the way IT/Computing/ICT is (isn't) taught in schools. Kids just don't have an appreciation of what IT really is or it's implications. That's right. Because if they a true appreciation of it none of them would ever choose it as a career. I've been doing it for 15 years and its full of useless curse word and idiots on a scale that beggars belief. As for the original post, I'm so so on the idea. We might like it but that doesn't mean everyone does. Each to their own.
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Last Edit: Nov 18, 2011 12:59:36 GMT by jnoiles
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Believe in D&Tretrowagen1234
@GUEST
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Nov 18, 2011 13:19:41 GMT
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I feel even more strongly about the way IT/Computing/ICT is (isn't) taught in schools. Kids just don't have an appreciation of what IT really is or it's implications. I'm so so on the idea. We might like it but that doesn't mean everyone does.. but thats not for us or some teacher to decide. Its for the kids to decide, To choose their own life path based on what THEY want to do.
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Believe in D&Tretrowagen1234
@GUEST
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Nov 18, 2011 13:24:07 GMT
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Oh and ive just cross posted this thread to another forum i frequent
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